Automobile parking mechanisms



Jan. 19, 1965 J. P. SONDEREGGER AUTOMOBILE PARKING MECHANISMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1962 Jan. 19, 1965 J-. P. SONDEREGGER 3,165,130

7 AUTOMOBILE PARKING MECHANISMS Filed April 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 19, 1965 J. P. SONDEREGGER AUTOMOBILE PARKING MECHANISMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 3, 1962 .w 6 AWAUV a m y r k r k r k I I. i ii 1. ii ii mil lnmblifidnqm w wwbuu g m D u m r k f f F Jan. 19, 1965 J. P. SONDEREGGER 3,166,180

AUTOMOBILE PARKING MECHANISMS Filed April 3 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 r? r l a Jan. 19, 1965 J. P. SONDEREGGER 3,166,180

AUTOMOBILE PARKING MECHANISMS Filed April 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 of the height of the cars.

7 sides,

' person skilled in the art. 1 What is claimed-'- as new the platforms follow one another closelyI'at the longitudinal sides. A0, B Ho, denote the'stopping points" 1 of the associated driving pin racer the conveyor chain,

respectively; When the platforms are to be advanced one or more places, in order that e.g. the platform A V loaded with a car makesplace for a subsequent, still empty platform, the chain issetin motion. Then'the carrier pin for the platform A" movesfrom the point A0 through the points A1, A2, A3 to the point where previously the carrier pin Ho of the platformH had been.

, v 4 V I, parallel to said rectangular path for keeping thereby the first coupling means fixed to said first portions of said conveyer means engaged with the respective second coupling means, a plurality. of. deflector means respectively arranged along spaced points of said, horizontal portions of said path for deflecting a plurality of second portions of said endless flexible conveyer means trans The driving pin of the platform B on the other hand moves meanwhile from the position B0 firstly to the'j ilk ternal deflection point B 1, from there back to B2, which point co-incides with E0, and only then via theinter mediatepoint B3'to the place, where-the point A0, had

been previously. V i a 7 The platform B accordingly starts moving in the'directionof thefcircuit only when theplatform A has arrived at 'the oint A2, and is therefore out of the trajectory of the platform B. Likewise the platforms C, D and F, 6,111

I are first at standstill, and move only subsequently to the next place, while ,tl1e platform'E 'moves towards the a corner opposite of that of the platform A. r

, I 'Inthis manner it'is possible to make the'short vertical sides of the circuit only as high as indispensible in view h The lengths of the detour loops B0, B1, B2, C0, C1, C2 Ho, Hil,"I-I2 have to correspond approximately to the lengths of these short- When an upright arrangement of the rectangular'circuitis provided according, to FIG; 5, the motionphases and detour loopshave to be laid out according-to the sequence of points indicated there.

i rality of platform carriages arranged on said stationary In FIG. 1 for example the left hand side upper 'corner' V of the rectangular circuit is to be provided as thelo'adingand unloading point, respectively, of the circuit.'--'

According to the, modification of FIG. 6, at the deflector points the leading pins or roller 440, respectively, 7

come into engagement with rotatable sprocket Wheels:

459 at the undersides of the platforms 40, These sprocket wheels 450 take-over the pins 449 at the'outlet ofthe horizontal guide tracks 460, 461and guide them from the i vertical guide tracks470again into the horizontal guide tracks 460,461. Advantageously the transition sprocket Wheels 450 are driven at the same circumferentialspeed as the conveyor chain 10, for example byrrieans of abelt-t or chain-drive 110 from the wheel "11 or 12, respectively.

While I have hereindescribed and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings what may be considered tor-be typical and particularly useful embodiments oftmy said inventioml wish it"to be understood that I do not limit l myself to the particular detailsiand dimensionsdescribed and illustrated; for obvious modifications will occur to a v V and desired to be protected: by Letters Patentis: q j' r 7 1'. A parking mechanism for 1 automobiles 'or'the like comprising, incombination, a'st ationary structure defining'a rectangular path having a pair; of substantially horizontal portions and a pair of] substantially vertical portions; a plurality of, platform carriages'arrangedi on said stationaryjstructure for movement parallel to them;

selves along .said rectangular path and in such-a manner that two diagonally opposite corners ofsaid path are simultaneously unoccupiedaan'd drive: means 'for' moving said platform carriages along said path and in-,

portions shorter than said horizontal portions; a plurality, of platform carriages arranged on said stationary str'uc 'ture for movement parallelfto" themselves along said versely with respect to said first portions for disengaging the first coupling means fixed to said second portions from the respective second: coupling means, and moving means connected totsai d endless flexible conveyer means for continuouslymoving'the same along said guide and deflector means.- i V V 2. A parking mechanism for automobiles or the like comprising, in combination, astationarystructure defining a'rectangular path having a' pair of'substantially' horizontal portions and a 'pair of substantially vertical portions'shorter than said horizontal portions; a plustructure for movement parallel to themselves along said rectangular path and insuch a manner that two diagov nally oppositetcorners of said path are simultaneously unoccupied; and drive means for moving said platform carriages along said path and" including endless flexible conveyer means, a plurality of first coupling means, one for each platform, fixed spaced from each other to said endless flexible conveyer means,a plurality of second coupling means respectively'fixed to said platform carriages. and respectively adapted to be engaged by said first coupling means for coupling said platform carriages to said conveyer means, guide means for guiding at any instant a plurality of first portions of said endless flexible. conveyer means substantially parallel to 'said 'recta'ngular path for keeping thereby the'first coupling means fixed to said first portions of said conveyer means en gaged with the respective second co'upling means, a plurality of deflector means respectively arranged along spaced points of said horizontal portions of said path for deflecting a plurality of second portions of'ysaid endless flexible conveyer means transversely with respect to said-first portions for disengaging the first coupling means fixed to said second portions from'the respective second coupling means, said second portions "having each a total length substantially equal to .the length of said vertical portions, and moving means connected to said endless flexible conveyer means for continuously moving the same along said guide and deflector means; 7

3. A parking mechanism forautomobiles or the like comprising, in combinatiom-astationary structureydefining arectangular path having a pair of substantially horizontal portions and a pair of substantially ,vertical rectangular path and in such "a manner that two diagonallyopposite'corners of said path are simultaneously unoccupied; andldrive'means for moving said platform carriages, along said path and including endlessrflexible 1 conveyer means, a plurality of first coupling means,- one for eachplatform, fixed spaced from each other :to. said endless flexible conveyer means,"a plurality of second 1 coupling means respectively fixed to said platform carcludingend'less flexible conveyor means, 'a' plurality of; r

from each. other to, said endless'flexible conveyer means, a plurality ofrseco'ndcoupling means respectively fixed to said platform carriages and respectively adapted tob'e engaged by saidfirs t-couplinglmeans for couplingsaid V platform carriages to saidconveyer means, guide means for guiding atany instant a plurality of first, portions" of vsaid endless flexible conveyer 'mean's substantially first; coupling meansjone foreachplatforrr'rjfixed spaced v 'riages and respectively adapted to be engaged by said first coupling means for coupling'sai'd platformcarria'g'es, to said conveyer means, guide means for guiding at any instant aplurality of vfirst portions of said endless flexible conveyermeans substantially, parallel to said rectangular path for fkeeping thereby the first coupling means fixed to said second portions from the respectivefsecond coupling' means, said second portions having each a tptallength substantially equal to the length of said VSIlllCal;

deflector means.

4. A parking mechanism for automobiles or the like comprising, in combination, a stationary structure defining a rectangular path having a pair of substantially horizontal portions and a pair of substantially vertical portions shorter than said horizontal portions; a plurality of platform carriages arranged on said stationary structure for movement parallel to themselves along said rectangular path and'in such 'a manner that two diagonally opposite corners of said path are simultaneously unoccupied; and drive means for moving sm'd platform carriages along said path and including endless flexible conveyer means, a plurality of first coupling means, one for each platform, fixed spaced from each other to said endless flexible conveyer means, a plurality of second coupling means respectively fixed to said platform carriages and respectively adapted to be en gaged by said first coupling means for coupling said platform carriages to said conveyer means, guide means i for guiding at any instant a plurality of first portions of said endless flexible conveyer means substantially parallel to said rectangular path for keeping thereby the first coupling means fixed to said first portions of said conveyer means engaged with the respective second coupling means, a plurality of deflector means respectively arranged along spaced points of said horizontal portions of said path for deflecting a plurality of second portions of said endless flexible conveyer means transversely with respect to said first portions for disengaging the first coupling means fixed to said second, portions from the respective second coupling means, said second portions having each a total length substantially equal to the length of said vertical portions, each of said deflector means including three rotary deflector means two of which are mounted closely spaced from each other along said horizontal portions of said path and the third being arranged between said two deflector means and between said horizontal portions so that each of said second portions of said endless flexible conveyer means forms a loop extending from one toward the other of i said horizontal portions of said path, and moving means connected to said endless flexible conveyer means for continuously moving the same along said guide and deflector means.

5. A parking mechanism for automobiles or the like comprising, in combination, a stationary structure defining a rectangular path'having a pair of substantially horizontal portions and a pair of substantially vertical portions shorter than said horizontal portions; a plurality of platform carriages arranged on said stationary structure for movement parallel to themselves along said rectangular path and in such a manner that two diagonally opposite corners of said path are simultaneously unoccupied; drive means for moving said platform carriages along said path and including an endless flexible sprocket chain, a plurality of first coupling means,

four sprocket gears respectively arranged'at corners of said rectangular path for guiding at any instant a plurality of first portions of said endless flexible sprocket chain substantially parallel to said rectangular; path for keeping thereby the first coupling'rneans fixed to said; first portions of said sprocket chain engaged with the respective second coupling means, a plurality of deflector engaging the first coupling means fixed to said second 7 portions from the respective second coupling means, said second portions having each a total length substantially equal to the length of said vertical portions of said rec tangular path, and moving means connected to said endless flexible sprocket chain for continuously moving the same along said guide and deflector means.

6'. Aparking mechanism for automobiles or the like comprising, incombination, a stationary structure having a pair of spaced substantially horizontal guide rail means and a pair of spaced substantially vertical guide rail means shorter than said horizontal guide trail means and defining with the latter a substantially rectangular path; a plurality of platform carriages. having each rollerf means engaging said guide rail means for guiding said platform carriages parallel to themselves along said rec'- tangular path, said plurality of platformv carriages arranged on said guide rail means so that two diagonally opposite corners of said. path are simultaneously unoccupied; and drivetmeans for moving said platform car riages along said path and including endless flexible conveyor means,-a plurality of first coupling means, one for each platform, fixed spaced from each other to said endless flexible conveyer means, a plurality of second coupling means respectively fixed to said platform carriages and respectively adapted to be engaged by said first coupling means for coupling said platform carriages to said conveyer means, guide means for guiding at any instant a plurality of first portions of said endless flexible conveyer means substantially parallel to said rectangular path for keeping thereby the first coupling means fixed to said first portions of said conveyer means engaged with the respective second coupling means, a plurality of deflector means respectively arranged along spaced points of said horizontal portions of said path for defleeting a plurality of second portions" of said endless flexible conveyor means having each a total length substantially equal to said length of said vertical guide rail means transversely with respect to said first portions for disengaging the first coupling means fixed to said second portions from the respective second coupling means, and means connected to said endless flexible coveyer means for continuously moving the same'along said guide and deflectormeanst i V V 7. A parking mechanism as set forth in claim 6 in which said roller means for each platform carriage inengaged by said pair of lowergrollers duringmovement of the platform carriage along said Vertical guide rail means.

8. A parking mechanism for automobiles or the like comprising, in combination, a stationary structure defining a rectangular path having a'pair of substantially horizontal portions and a pair substantially, vertical portions shorter than said horizontal portions; a plurality of platform carriages arranged on said stationary structure for movement parallel to themselves along said rectangular path and in such a manner that two diagonally opposite corners of saidcpath aresimultaneously unoccupied; drive means for moving said platform carriages along said path and including an endless flexible sprocket chain, a P1111 rality of first'couplin means, one for'eachpla-tform, fixed spaced chain, a plurality of second coupling'means respectively fixed. to said platform carriages and respectively adapted to be engaged by said ffirst coupling means for coupling said platform carriages tosaid sprocket chain, guide means includingfour sprocket gears respectively arranged at corners of 'saidrectangularzpa th for guiding at any infrom each other to said endless, flexible sprocket I veyor means forcontinuously moving the same in said one direction; andm'eans cooperating'with said coupling stant' a plurality of first portions of said endless flexible V sprocket chain substantially; parallel to said rectangular path for keeping thereby the first coupling means fixed to said first portions of said sprocket chainengaged with the respective second coupling means, a plurality of deflector means 'respectively'arranged along spaced points of 'said horizontal portions of saidpath for deflecting a plurality of second portions of said endless flexible sprocket chain transversely with respect to said first'por tions for disengaging the first coupling-means'fixed to said second portions from the respective second coupling .means, said second portions having each a total length substantially equal to thelength of said verticalportions of said rectangularpath, each of said deflector means including three rotary sprocket gears two ofwhi'ch are means for keeping the second coupling means on the two platform carriages preceding in said one direction said' two diagonally opposite cornersengaged with thecor-retially horizontal portions and a pair of shorter subs nn' tially vertical portions; a plurality of platform carriages arranged on said horizontal portions of said stationary structure in such a manner that two diagonally opposite ,corners of said rectangular path are simultaneously unmounted closely spaced from each otheralong said hori zontal portions of said path andthe third'being arranged between said two sprocket gears and vertically spaced therefrom between said horizontal portions of said path so that each of said second portions of said endless flexible sprocket chain forms a loop extending transversely and substantially vertical to said horizontal portionsof said path, and moving means connected to said endless flexible sprocket chain'for continuousl'yimoviing the same 1 along said guide and deflector means;

9. A parking mechanism as set forth which each of said first coupling meansincludes a pin extending transverse .to the elongationof said Iendless in claim 8 in? occupied, said carriages mounted on said stationary structure for movement :in one direction" parallel to themselves along said rectangular path; drive means for moving said platformcarriages along said path and including endless flexible conveyor means mounted for movement along said path, a plurality of first'coupling means, "one for eachplatform carriage, fixed spaced from each other 7 to said endless flexible conveyor means, aplurality of second coupling means respectively fixed to said platform carriages and respectively adapted to engage said first endless flexible conveyor means for continuously moving coupling means for coupling said platform carriages to said conveyor means, and moving means connected to said the same in said one direction; and, means cooperating with said coupling means for keeping-the second coupling flexible sprocket chain andin which each "of said second Z i coupling means includes a fork-shaped member mounted on the'respectiveplatform carriage for pivotal movement means on the two platform carriages preceding in said one direction said two diagonally opposite corners engaged with the corresponding first coupling means and 'fordisengaging the second coupling means on the other platabout a pivot axis and having a slot open at one end'so that a pin of said first coupling means may enter said" slot to couple saidfirst and said second coupling means and so that said pin may leave said slot to disengage said coupling means from each other; and cooperating means on said second coupling means and said guide rail means for maintaining said fork-shaped member during movement of the respective platform carriage along said horizontal guide rail means in such a position that'said open end of said 'slot faces toward said third sprocket gear.

10. A parking mechanism as set forth in claim 9 in which said cooperating means comprise a pair of rollers axisand connected to said fork-shapedmember, andgu'ide surfaces on said guiderail meansengaged by said rollers andarranged for causing said fork-shaped member to turn about the'pivot axis thereof through an angle of 90- when-the respectiveplatform carriagepasses over the corners of said rectangular path. q

11. A parking mech-anismfor automobiles or'the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary strueturedefin ing a rectangular path; a plurality of, platform carriages arranged on said stationary structure in such a manner comprising, in combination','a'stationary structure definforrn carriage's'from the first coupling means until 'said' two platform carriages have respcctively, moved from ofi said portions of said path to a portion adjacent thereto 13. A parking mechanism'forfautomobiles or the like,

7 ing a rectangular pathhaving a pair of substantially horirespectively located on said opposite sides of. saidpivot that two diagonally opposite corners of said rectangular 7 path are simultaneously unoccupied, said carriages mounted on said stationary structure for movement in one I direction parallel to themselves along'said rectangular.

path; d-rive means for rnoving said platform' carriages along said path and including endless flexible cony'eyor means mounted forjrnovernent along said path, a plurality of first coupling means, one for each'platform caniage, fixed spaced fromeach. othervto said endless fiexiblecoh veyor means, a plurality of second couplingmeans-respectively fixeditosaid platform carriages and respectively adapted ,to engage said first coupling means for coupling said platform carriages tosaid conveyor means, and moving meansconnccted to saidendless flexibleconthereto.

zontal portions and a pair of substantially vertical portions; a plurality of platform carriages arranged on said horizontal portionsof said stationary structure in such a manner'that'two diagonally opposite corners of said rectangular path'are simultaneously unoccupied, said carriages mounted on said stationary 'structurefor movement in one direction parallel to themselves along said rectangular path; drive means for moving said platform carriages along said path and including endless. flexible conveyor means mounted for movement along said path, a plurality of first-coupling means, one for each platform carriage, fixed spaced from each other-to said'endless' flexible conveyor meansya plurality of second coupling means respectively fixed to said platform carriages and respectively adapted to engage said first coupling means for coupling said'rplatform carriages to said conveyor means, and moving means connected to said endless flexible conveyor means for continuously movingthe same inv 'said one direction; and means for guiding saidcndless flexible means in such a manner so as to keep the second coupling means'on the'two, platform carriages preceding f in said one direction said two dia onally opposite corners engaged with the corresponding first coupling means and so as to keep the sccond coupling means on the other plat L form carriages disengagedfrom the first coupling means until said two platformcarriages have respectively moved from off said portionsof said path to a portion adjacent References Cited in the file of this patent r T 'UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,358,507 Habcrstump Sept.l9,l944

2,761,572 7 Baker -Sept. 4, 1956 

1. A PARKING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A STATIONARY STRUCTURE DEFINING A RECTANGULAR PATH HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PORTIONS AND A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PORTIONS; A PLURALITY OF PLATFORM CARRIAGES ARRANGED ON SAID STATIONARY STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO THEMSELVES ALONG SAID RECTANGULAR PATH AND INSUCH A MANNER THAT TWO DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE CORNERS OF SAID PATH ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY UNOCCUPIED; AND DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLATFORM CARRIAGE ALONG SAID PATH AND INCLUDING ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR MEANS, A PLURALITY OF FIRST COUPLING MEANS, ONE FOR EACH PLATFORM, FIXED SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO SAID ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR MEANS, A PLURALITY OF SECOND COUPLING MEANS RESPECTIVELY FIXED TO SAID PLATFORM CARRIAGES AND RESPECTIVELY ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID FIRST COUPLING MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID PLATFORM CARRIAGES TO SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING AT ANY INSTANT A PLURALITY OF FIRST PORTIONS OF SAID ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID RECTANGULAR PATH FOR KEEPING THEREBY THE FIRST COUPLING MEANS FIXED TO SAID FIRST PORTIONS OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS ENGAGED WITH THE RESPECTIVE SECOND COUPLING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF DEFLECTOR MEANS RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED ALONG SPACED POINTS OF SAID HORIZONTAL PORTIONS OF SAID PATH FOR DEFLECTING A PLURALITY OF SECOND PORTIONS OF SAID ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CONVEYER MEANS MEANS TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST PORTIONS FOR DISENGAGING THE FIRST COUPLING MEANS FIXED TO SAID SECOND PORTIONS FROM THE RESPECTIVE SECOND COUPLING MEANS, AND MOVING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING THE SAME ALONG SAID GUIDE AND DEFLECTOR MEANS. 